New York, Near Columbus Circle 1930

Werner Drewes made this drawing of New York, Near Columbus Circle, with graphite in 1950. It’s a lovely study in the push and pull between dark and light, mass and void. You can really sense Drewes figuring things out as he goes along. The marks feel provisional, not labored over. Look how the graphite varies in tone and density, creating a real sense of depth and atmosphere. The drawing has a wonderful textural quality, as if Drewes built up the image layer by layer, smudging and erasing to achieve the desired effect. The buildings almost seem to emerge from the shadows, their forms dissolving and reforming before our eyes. There’s something about the energy in this piece that reminds me of the early New York School painters, like Franz Kline. It is loose, gestural, and full of life. I love how Drewes embraces ambiguity, allowing the image to remain open to interpretation. After all, isn’t that what art is all about?